Lawyers are trained to think in ways that can be the opposite of good innovation practices. We spot issues and potential problems, with an emphasis on problems. We identify and manage risks, with an emphasis on the risks of doing new things. We focus, sometimes agonizingly, on process, procedure, and precedent. Saying that something “has
Thoughts on Venture Capital in the Legal Industry
I was asked a while back to answer some questions for an article about venture capital in the legal industry. It now appears that the article might not happen.
As part of my #BlogFirst initiative, I’m posting my unedited and unupdated answers here for your reading pleasure and, maybe, to learn how others would answer
Fast Fish and New Technologies: Are Small Law Firms Outcompeting Large Firms?
Part of my #blogfirst project.
We have moved from a world where the big fish eat the little fish, says Tom Peters, the famous management consulting guru, to a world where the “fast fish eat the slow fish.”
I’ve noticed lately that many of the most innovative developments in legal technology have come from smaller
Notes on My Innovation Journey
A work in progress
Part of my #blogfirst approach and an introduction to what I’m now doing at Exponential.Legal (launch date February 1, 2021).
Whitney Johnson has said that our “superpowers” are the things we often get complimented for and routinely deflect the compliments because “everyone can do that.” People who are known for generating
The Biggest Disconnect in the Legal Industry?
The Biggest Disconnect in the Legal Industry?
(COVID-19 Version)
We seem to be living in a time when what is most important today already seems like old news tomorrow. It’s difficult, on so many levels. The seeming comfort of a “return to normal” appeals more than the discomfort of change and innovation. However, either/or is
Innovation Tips and Priorities for Mid-sized Law Firms
Joanna Goodman recently asked me for some tips on how firms can go about balancing the need to control costs and manage the expectations of their partners and staff with investing in innovation to retain and win business and maintain competitive advantage as lockdown is lifted.
What should firms’ (especially mid-sized firms) priorities be for
Estate Planning for Your Digital Assets: Smart Planning for Your Digital Demise
[NOTE: I wrote the first version of this article in 2010. The article was one of the earliest practical articles on digital estate planning and, in its own way, was influential. It is also one of many of my articles that can no longer be found on the web because of publisher website issues.
A New Approach to Publishing My Articles
I’ve been rethinking my approach to publishing articles in publications. To my horror, I’ve seen links to hundreds of my old articles take people to “file not found” or other 404 pages. Other articles are now behind subscription or pay walls, or can be read only as you navigate through ad mazes.
That was never